Water for Elephants' to remain in West Chester Area curriculum Some parents argued against novel's sexual content and coarse language

WESTTOWN — The West Chester Area School Board finalized its first bout with censorship in nearly two decades Monday evening by voting to maintain a challenged book as part of district curriculum.

The book, “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen, was challenged by a group of parents at B. Reed Henderson High School, who debated the novel’s appropriateness as 10th-grade reading material.

The board voted to retain the book in the curriculum by a vote of 7-2 Monday during its meeting at G.A. Stetson Middle School. Board members Linda Raileanu and Maureen Snook dissented.

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Snook said she appreciates the intention of the book but questioned if other tales without the sexual material and profanity of “Water for Elephants” would be better for 10th-graders.

“If anything, shouldn’t our schools be a harbor, a safe place, where perhaps our students can escape the sex-saturated, profanity-laced culture that we live in right now,” Snook said.

In accordance with board policy, a nine-member committee that included administrators, teachers, a parent, a student and another community member, was formed to assess the literary merit of the book and make a recommendation. After meeting twice, the committee concluded with an 8-1 vote that the literary merit and educational objectives of the book outweighed the likelihood of it having a negative impact on students.

“Every time a group chooses one book over about 20 others they are for all intents and purposes censoring and depriving students of certain literature. This is not a censor issue; it’s an education issue,” said Mary Jo Zengel, one of the parents who filed the complaint and who spoke during Monday’s school board meeting.

A written complaint filed by Zengel and another parent in the district specifically challenged the planned use of the book as part of a 10th-grade honors English class at B. Reed Henderson High School.

According to the district, the teacher plans to use the book as part of “literature circles,” whereby students have a choice of reading materials that share certain literary characteristics or traits. For this class, students could select “Water for Elephants,” “Grapes of Wrath” or “Mr. Vertigo.”

Board member Sue Tiernan said one issue is that the book is a choice for some students and not part of a core curriculum.

Zengel said she felt misrepresented and was critical of the individuals chosen for the committee. She also suggested other authors who could have been considered.

“I am deeply saddened by students saying “Water for Elephants” provides the best discussion and is their only good read. What a sad commentary on the education provided,” Zengel said.

In November, Zengel attended a board meeting and read portions of the book she said were inappropriate for the students. Zengel ended her comments Monday by saying she would return next month to read more passages.

“I do think this is an issue about age-appropriate literature selection,” and this book fails in regard to its student audience, said resident Amy Ludwig.

Ludwig said she has read the book and could understand why the teacher would select it; however, she said it would have been helpful to include more community members in the committee.

“We are not making this up as we go,” said Diane Masar, a Henderson teacher and committee member. “We’re thoughtful, educated and deliberate; we take into account the developmental age of students, cognitive age of students, what we see among them socially. This is a matter of course and teaching.”

Masar said the students are capable of handling contemporary literature and can “navigate them with the full powers of their intellect.”

“Water for Elephants” tells the story of an older man in a nursing home reflecting on his life when he worked as part of a traveling circus during the Great Depression. District officials said the critics objected to it because of its sexual content surrounding the main character’s interest.

In a comprehensive report, the committee noted the board policy pertains solely to the issues of censorship, therefore this was the focus of the committee’s work. The removal of the book would prevent it from being taught at any level, as outlined in the board’s policy.

Board member Maria Pimley, who was on the committee, said is personally unsure if she would allow her children to read the book at that age, but the bottom line is it would be her choice.

Pimley said she was impressed with the process and thoroughness of the committee’s process.

She said it is not her job to restrict material vetted by teachers and administrators.

Raileanu disagreed, suggesting it is the board members’ duty. But she said she did not think the use of the word “censorship” was appropriate for the situation.

“Let’s not overdramatize what is really being requested here,” Raileanu said. The board “is held to a higher standard than just a local book club, therefore we are not speaking about censorship, we are talking about school districts doing their job to educate, inspire, protect and enlighten our children, not drag them down to the dark hole of depression, self-mutilation, sexual promiscuity and alcoholism.”

Raileanu presented studies that indicate students of this age are still developing and can hard-wire their brains with material that could lead them down a path of substance abuse and depression, among others.

“Research shows our young adults are struggling,” she said.

District officials recalled the last time this policy and a similar challenge came before the board was in 1994. That year, the board took an identical 7-2 vote to keep to keep “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison and “In Country” by Bobbie Ann Mason in the curriculum.

Pimply said that out of this process, what has hopefully been brought to light is the importance of a parent’s role in their child’s education.

“This should give us as parents the opportunity to realize that we must engage in being familiar with what our children are learning,” Pimley said. “It is our responsibility to make sure our students do not simply accept blindly every word they read or every word they hear. If we don’t do that, we are failing in our responsibility as parents.”